Institutional policy
Evidence Policy
PawPlants uses a source hierarchy, claim-level support, and separate pet-specific conclusions to avoid turning missing or indirect evidence into certainty.
Source hierarchy
- Tier 1: authoritative veterinary toxicology, poison-control, government, peer-reviewed, and botanical sources
- Tier 2: strong professional secondary sources
- Tier 3: contextual horticultural and institutional sources
- Tier 4: anecdotal or discovery-only material that cannot support a classification
Classification standard
Confirmed non-toxic requires affirmative authoritative documentation. A missing database entry, retailer label, or absence of reports does not establish safety. Confirmed toxic, irritant, and unknown results each have their own evidence and qualification requirements.
Conflict and uncertainty
When reliable sources disagree, PawPlants checks taxonomic identity, pet scope, dates, mechanisms, and methodology. Unresolved conflict remains visible rather than being silently resolved toward the more convenient answer.
Read a record critically
Plant records present separate cat and dog conclusions, claim-relevant sources, qualifying limitations where applicable, and a direct correction route.
See the editorial policy